Names for Michigan State fans to keep an eye on as signing day nears
EAST LANSING – Michigan State landed Antujan Simmons, the linebacker from Ann Arbor Pioneer who revoked his commitment to Ohio State. It was a major in-state pickup.
That makes 18 scholarship commitments for the Spartans’ 2017 recruiting class with a little less than two weeks remaining in signing season. They added a third preferred walk-on Thursday with the addition of junior college running back Kevin Momnohin from Orange, New Jersey, via Scottsdale (Arizona) Community College.
Much of MSU’s focus now is on adding to a few more spots to finish off the class, which coach Mark Dantonio said in December he wanted to add between four and seven more players to before Simmons’ decision. The Spartans are looking at defensive end, cornerback, running back and wide receiver.
Four-star linebacker Antjuan Simmons commits to Michigan State
Here’s a brief glimpse at a number of players (listed alphabetically) to keep an eye on in the final few days before signing day on Feb. 1:
MEKHI BECTON, OT, Highland Springs (Va.): The massive 3-star lineman (6-foot-7, 345 pounds) still lists MSU among his choices, but he already has taken official visits to Michigan, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Oregon.
RAHEEM BLACKSHEER, WR, Archbishop Wood (Pa.): The 3-star Temple commit will visit MSU this weekend. Rutgers and Syracuse also are in pursuit of the 3-star slot receiver at state champ, whose nickname is “Speedy.”
KOBY CUMBERLANDER, DE, Roswell (Ga.): The 2-star defensive end has called MSU “my dream school” and visited last weekend. He also is reportedly weighing offers from Iowa State, Kansas State and Central Florida.
MESHAEL CUSTIS, CB, Lovejoy (Ga.): Custis is rated between a 3- and 4-star prospect. Recruiting site 247Sports.com considers him a lock to pick the Spartans.
Michigan State lands second 2018 commit in Dayton WR Joseph Scates
VICTOR DIMUKEJE, DE, Baltimore The Boys Latin School (Md.): Dantonio and defensive line coach Ron Burton visited the 3-star recruit Tuesday as a follow-up to his visit last weekend. Virginia Tech, Pitt, Maryland and others remain interested.
MORGAN ELLISON, RB, Pickerington (Ohio): The 3-star former Ohio University commit reopened his recruitment earlier this month and is picking up a lot of attention. He plans to announce his decision Feb. 1.
EMMANUEL FLOWERS, CB, Chino Hills Ayala (Calif.): Another late-blooming recruit who is visiting MSU this weekend. UCLA and San Diego State are also after the 2-star prospect.
JOHNATHAN LOVETT, RB, Cherokee (N.J.): The 3-star former Rutgers commit was among the players to visit last weekend. He’s choosing between MSU, Penn State, Iowa, Baylor and Tennessee, but also has said Rutgers and Central Florida are “still contenders.”
OLIVER MARTIN, WR, Iowa City West: A teammate of Spartan quarterback commit Rocky Lombardi, Martin is a 4-star prospect per 247Sports.com who also is considering Notre Dame, Michigan, Iowa and a number of other major programs. He visited MSU with Lombardi last week.
DEWAYNE MURRAY III, RB, Steel Valley (Pa.): The Pittsburgh-area’s Class 2A player of the year, a 3-star recruit, is scheduled to visit this weekend. Pitt and others are in the mix.
TRE PERSON, CB, Atlanta Westlake (Ga.): The 2-star Georgia Southern commit is visiting MSU this weekend after getting an offer earlier this month. The Spartans have company, though, with the 3-star recruit picking up a Virginia Tech offer this week.
ROBERT PORCHER IV, DE, Orlando Dr. Phillips (Fla.): The 3-star son of the former Detroit Line defensive lineman visited MSU last weekend after announcing he’d decommited from Nebraska in December to play closer to family. He’s visiting Virginia Tech this weekend.
CORDARRIAN RICHARDSON, RB, Memphis Trezevant (Tenn.): The 4-star decommited from eventual national champ Clemson last month. The Tigers remain one of his options, but he’s also considering MSU, Oregon, Ole Miss and Central Florida.
Recruiting: MSU hosting a crucial group of prospects this weekend
WILLIE ROGERS, DE, Valor Christian (Colo.): The 3-star Saginaw product, who transferred for his senior year, reportedly will visit MSU before signing day. Arizona and Washington State are among his other pursuers.
NICK SMITH, LB, Orlando Dr. Phillips (Fla.): Porcher’s teammate decommitted from North Carolina State after visiting MSU with Porcher last week. He’s visiting Florida this weekend, and LSU, Louisville and the Wolfpack remain on his list.
AMIR SPEED, CB, Sandalwood High (Jacksonville, Florida): The rising prospect is down to MSU, Oregon, Georgia and North Carolina, though he recently got a visit from Alabama’s Nick Saban. He plans to visit Georgia this weekend and announce his choice on signing day.
KURT TAYLOR, RB, Covington (Ga.): The 3-star Michigan commitment recently received an offer from the rival Spartans and told the Free Press he could visit MSU later this month.
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.